AJ and Hearn at odds over Fury fight
ANTHONY JOSHUA insists he will ‘of course’ sign the contract for the proposed world heavyweight title clash with Tyson Fury — but promoter Eddie Hearn says there is ‘no chance’ it will be done today. Fury set Joshua’s camp the ultimatum on Friday night, insisting if the deal cannot be done he will walk away and find another opponent for his next WBC title defence. Speaking on an Instagram Live on Sunday afternoon, Joshua said: ‘It ain’t in my hands — it’s with a legal team. That’s why you hire lawyers.
‘So of course I’m going to sign the contract — it’s just with some lawyers at the minute.’ Executives from BT Sport and streaming service DAZN are scheduled to meet today, with Joshua’s team having already verbally accepted Fury’s offer of a 60-40 purse split.
But Hearn told the Seconds Out YouTube channel: ‘There is no chance this fight will get signed by Monday.’
On Saturday, Joe Joyce stopped Joseph Parker in the 11th round to claim the vacant WBO interim heavyweight title at Manchester’s AO Arena. Joyce will now be targeting a shot at a world title later this year or early 2023 — and would appear in prime position to challenge unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Joyce said: ‘Usyk, let’s get it on.’